Lifting and lowering tongs



Feb. 23, 1954 BARCHOFF 2,670,233

LIFTING AND LOWERING TONGS Filed April 18. 1952 2 She'ets-Sheet l BY /@W ATTORNEY Feb. 23, 1954 A. BARCHOFF LIFTING AND LOWERING TONGS 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed April 18, 1952 INVENTJGR- 45.09am Jen-flaw ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 23, 1954 2,6 ,2 3- LIFTINGAND EOWERING TONGS AbrahamjarchoffhNew York N. Y.., assignon to.

Eastern. Bra s, Copper.

00,, Inc..,. New. York,v

N. Y, a corporation of New York ApplicatibnApritIS; 1952, Serial/No. 283,067: 8. Claims- (Cl. 2.94 9.7.)

This invention relates. to. lifting; and' lowering;

tongsiand more; particularly. to.a tone; device; de.. signed. for the engagement, of annular. objects.

such-.as; rolls of metal; pipes, wheelsand the like.

It. is the objectof; the presentinventiontoprovide arugged: and; reliable tong. device which is, adapted to engage an annular object fromlthe; interior. thereof, v and. morelparticularly by lowering: the tong-.intothe center of. the annular ob- .iect in a. collapsed condition, which. may be followed.- by a distention. of the. tang when the samezisliftedzsothat a. pair of opposed tonghsunports may: engage reliably the bottom of the. an.- nular. object so that the. same may be. hauled. mthamighdegreeof s.tability,.by, craneor other-- wise. o. any d ired location.

It. is, a? further,- object 1 the. present invention; to provide a. tone device. having a. pair of. op. posed; tong levers which may be. selectively and quickly. collapsed. on distendech, depending upon the. optional. engagement. of; one. of. twohooks fitted: on. the. tong device.

It. is, a.fi1rther. objectv of. the invention. to. provide. for an. effective; guiding of the. tong device into. the; interior on ahollow body. by adjustable uide. members extending. transversely he Blame; of? th tones sol that the. tone levers, are.

centered quickly and accurately within theholev the hollow body. thereby The. adjustable uide members, also serve, as. a. stabilizing influence for the. support ofgthebody while thesame: is. en.- ease yv he t nes. so. that. the.- same. does. not rock or shiftjonthetong supportswhile in me:

ion.

. ltis another object. of; the nvention. to proca-tive and" congruous witheaoh other so that the parts ma; be interchanged; The assembly thereof maybe made with facility and in view The invention: proceeds: upon"- the principle of providing a pair of opposed" tong levers having the; unpen ends: thereof? pivotally suspended? from he opposite; ends of? the. bar frame; A pair of rigid feet: extend; from; the lower: ends: ot the tongs:for-thesupporhand engagement thereby of diametrically opposed. points: of an: annular body sashes amulet; meta la p nerorthel ia Rivet bol s.- are; rovided a an 'ntermed a e aint; o eeiuitoneleverewhiohzbclts are uidedr adjacent the outer limits. of the; guide. bar.

I control lever, extends upwardly through zontal. g ide ar provi ed. with: slo s here r When-thepivotbolts;are,e ach;disposed.nearenthe center of the guidebar, thetongs are-in-a o0l lapsed condition. and. when the. pivotbolts;w are; the tongs; are in.- an extended: position. 'Ihecontroh at. the pivot bolts is. exercised by one or, more quadrangular frames. whichv are. symmetrical, to. the vertical axis of thetong device. Awentical heivere tical axis of the toner device, to.v raise the lowercorner of the quadrangular frame; whichieliecl a a separation of. the pivot. boltstocausev a. distena. tion of. the tong levers. On the other. hand 2,, raising of the. tang device. by; the: upper. corner ofthe quadrangular frame, causes. a. collapse, of, the frame. and; the tong. levers. engaged thereby, so that the tong device assumes a. collapsed. state.

Guide bolts extending transversely. to theplane of the tone levers: and operatin mechanism serve. to. center the-t tong device; as, the. same. is lowered: into. a. hollow body and,- also; center? the hollow body. on the, tong; device. while. the body is. in motion; These. guide bolts. are, provided with adjustablemembersfor the. purpose or, a ia lusting the device to-different internal diameters of; the bodies; which; are. designed. to be? handled by the. tone e eheeuide bolts alsomaabe used; to. maintain. the. lever. system, in: tighthg as sembl'ed. position,

other Objects. purposes. will. appear from the; detailed; description of. the. invention follow-. ing hereinafter, taken in conjunction. with, the accompany. drawings, wherein:

Fi 1 is. an. end View; of. the. tong. device. as the. same. is. lowered into. at roll;: of metal; disposed on. a. pallet, withthe. roll of; met l. shown in ection;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view along line 272. of. E ie...

Eig. 3: is. a. view corresponding. to. Big, 2, show-.1 ing the parts. of the. tong. in. distendedi position preparatory to the. lifting of the hollow body; and.

Eig. 4. is. a view. showing. the. tone. 11- ntletive position. supportingv the hollow: body for hauling to. some. other. location...

In the; drawings is, shown an? annular body which. for thersake of illustration, is shown; as; a r ls or m al; which; isi urnortedi upon- 12934 31258 of. any" suitable construction. 'Ilhe; unnensun face of the pallet is provided; with; spaced. sum 122.9 355 for the bottom. edge of; beds; which define an qneninr oi he ebetweemto nermirit the movement of the tong levers therebelow, as shown in Fig. 3. Body R may be of any other form, such as pipes or car wheels, and may be of configurations other than cylindrical. It is the aim of the tong device in accordance with the present invention to be lowered into the hollow center of the body rapidly and with certainty by means of a cable chain or the like, and after the tong device reaches its lower limit of travel, the same is spread 50 that it may engage the bottom edge of the body at opposed points for the purpose of lifting the same and conveying it to some other location.

The tong device is preferably formed by a horizontal bar frame composed of companion congruous bars I, l which are spaced from each other by rigid spacers l3 and Hi leaving an opening 15 therebetween at the center thereof. Tong lever 3 is pivotally mounted between one end of the bars l, I by means of a rivet or bolt 5. Similarly the opposite tong lever 4 is pivotally mounted between the opposite ends of the bars I, l by means of a rivet or bolt 6. A foot 'I is rigidly mounted at the lower end of tong lever 3 and a companion foot 8 is rigidly mounted at the lower end of tong lever A. Pivot bolts 9 and It may be either fixedly or loosely mounted at corresponding points of the tong levers 3 and 4, respectively, and horizontal guide bars 2, 2 are provided on opposite sides of the frame with slots H, H for the pivot bolt 9, and slots 62, 2 for the pivot bolt I0. The guide bars 2 and 2 maintain their horizontal position and a fixed displacement with respect to the bar frame I, i, so that the relative placement of the pivot bolts 8 and I within the slots of the guide bars determines the degree of distention and contraction of the tong device.

For the purpose of controlling the positioning of the tong levers, the pivot bolts 9 and Hi form the opposite corners of a pair of quadrangular frames disposed on the opposite sides of the horizontal bar frame I, l and between this bar frame and the respective guide bars 2, 2.

As shown in Fig. 2, one of the quadrangular frames is formed by upper members 2|, 22 and lower members 23, 24 forming the upper corner 25 and the lower corner 26 in addition to the laterally disposed corners formed by the pivot bolts 9 and ID. A companion and congruous frame is formed on the opposite side of bar frame I, I by corresponding members 2!, 22, 23', 24' forming the top corner 25 and a bottom corner 28'.

A control lever 30 is joined at its lower end to the common pivotal connection between the bottom corners 2B, 26 of the quadrangular frames and this lever extends upwardly through the opening I in the bar frame I in the same plane occupied by the tong levers 3 and 4.

A hook device 21 has its ends pivotally joined to the upper corners of the quadrangular frames at 25, 25 and another hook device 28, smaller than hook 21, has its ends pivotally connected to the upper extremity of lever 30. The lever 30 is preferably provided at its upper limit with a stop 30' in order to limit the rotary movement of the hook 28 to 90 between its vertical position shown in Fig. 3 and a horizontal position. On the other hand, hook 21 may swing freely so that tong lever 4 acts as a stop in one direction and the enlarged bight of hook 28 acts as a stop in the opposite direction.

The application of a lifting force to either of hooks 21 or 28 determines the position to be as- 4 sumed by the tong levers. lowered into position for engagement with the body and it is desired that the same be in a collapsed state, the hook 27 supports the tongs from the upper corners of the quadrangular frames and such frames tend to assume a collapsed position by virtue of the weight of the members so that the tong levers 3 and 4 are drawn inwardly" by the contraction of the pivot bolts 9 and H], as shown in Fig. 2. After the tong is brought to its lowered position, hook 2'! is disengaged from the chain and a lifting force is exerted on hook 23. This lifting force on hook 23 serves to raise lever 39 upwardly which carries the lower corner 2 6 in an upward direction and acts to spread apart pivot bolts 9 and it within slots H, ii and i2 and 12 of the horizontal guide bars. This positioning of the parts is shown in Fig. 3. The continued lifting of hook 28 serves to position the feet 1 and 8 of the tongs securely against opposed parts of the bottom edge of the body B for the purpose of conveying it by the hoist or chain to any desired location, whereupon the same may be lowered. A lifting force on hook 21 will immediately cause a collapse of the tongs so that the same may be withdrawn from the body R.

In order to obtain a rapid and effective centering and guiding of the tongs within the hollow body, guide bolt means are provided which extend transversely to the plane of the tongs. As shown in the drawing, guide bolt 55 extends transversely from the midpoint of horizontal guide bar 2 and another bolt It extends transversely from the median point of horizontal guide bar 2'. An adjustable sleeve I8 is mounted on the former and is provided with a depending finger l9 having an inwardly turned extremity I911. The guide bolt [6 has a flattened edge I! in order to receive the end of a thumb-screw 20 so that the sleeve l8 may be adjustably fastened to the bolt 16 at any point of its length. A similar adjustable sleeve assembly is provided for bolt is by sleeve i8 carrying depending finger 59 having an inturned end l9a. An adjustable thumb-screw 26, acting on the flattened edge ll of bolt 16 serves to set the transverse guiding members l9, IS in place.

In order to stabilize the assembly of rangular frames on the opposite sides of the bar frame I, lever 3| is fixedly attached to one side of control lever 30 by means of spacing block 32 and another lever 31' is connected to the opposite side of lever 38 by means of spacing block 32'. The thickness of the spacing blocks 3! and 3! each corresponds to three thicknesses of the frame bars, assuming they are uniform. These correspond to two bars of the quadrangular frame and one thickness of the horizontal guide bar. Bolt and nut assemblies 33 serve to keep levers 3| and 31, in place, which confine the horizontal guide bars 2 and 2 and the quadrangular frames between them and the horizontal bar frame I, i. In order not to interfere with the vertical movements of control lever 39, levers 3| and 3| are provided with slots 3%, 34' which permit relative movement of these levers with respect to the horizontal guide bars 2, 2' and the bolts [5 and I5 extending therefrom. The bolts l6 and it may be made hollow to threadedly engage stud bolts extending from the midpoints of guide bars, 2, 2' through the slots 34 and 3t; A tightening-of the bolts 16 and it would then-have the effect ofpressing the levers When the tongs are quadserene sgaiiisvtiiegeidetarsiana irespea ifdesireiii a'fidfitiiiiioii' Belt iemay beextendec through the horizontalgiii e ears mini, which,

or eeil ssj; would iieeessitate a'ioiigitudihal slot iii control lever 30 truer-ta ering this l'ever to execute its iiibyesieiigs relative the Horrzoiital' guiaetars zariu z' the'eourseoi' raising' theiovvereernersre; 2 I offthe quadrangular frames. m such a iiiddificatibn the lever restraints 3| and 3l' couldbe o'ifiittedi H I In the operation of tlie'toiig evice the sleeves l3 and f8; are adjusted 'so' that their coinbineu leiigcii is slightly; than the lnteriial" diameter qr annular b dyes se lianeled, 'ilie tong device lowered by nook 2'1 shown in Figs. I '2 until" tliie's'a'niefstrikes the bottdnr of' the pallet with the feetof' the tongs in line the openings beitvv the edge-of the body. Hook 21 is disengaged from the crane and hook 28 is enages therewith. I Ks sees as the tens device is raised, the tone levers are spread and Support the body R2 at diametrically opposed points. The body does not tilt or rockon the tong lever slip'po 'rts by virtue of afforded by the opposedcentering fingers t9 and i9 acting in a .plane perpendicular to the plane of the tong supports; The annular body is hauled "to a"; location andrplaced on a pallet, The

-tings'- may be collapsed and "Withdrawn by 'disengaging hook 28 and lifting hook the operation may be repeated.

While I have described my invention as embodied in a specific form and as operating in a specific manner for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that I do not limit my invention thereto, since various modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. A tong device comprising a horizontal bar frame, a pair of tong levers having the upper ends thereof pivotally connected to the opposite ends of said bar frame, a pivot bolt at an intermediate point of each of said tong levers, a quadrangular framecomprising four pivotally connected arms having two opposite corners thereof mounted on said pivot bolts and the junction line of the other two corners thereof parallel to the vertical axis of said tong device, a horizontal guide bar below said bar frame having slots therein for receiving said pivot bolts and for guiding said tong levers in their to-a'nd-fro movements about their pivotal axes on said hori zontal bar frame, a vertical control lever having its lower end connected to the bottom corner of said quadrangular frame and its upper end extending through said bar frame, hook means connected to the upper end of said lever for raising the lower corner of said quadrangular frame to effect a spreading of said pivot bolts and a consequent distention of said tongs, and a second hook means connected to the upper corner of said quadrangular frame for effecting a collapse of the tong levers by the weight of said tong device.

2. A tong device comprising a horizontal bar frame, a pair of tong levers having the upper ends thereof pivotally connected to the opposite ends of said bar frame, a pivot bolt at an intermediate point of each of said tong levers, a quadrangular frame symmetrical with respect to the vertical axis of said tong device and comprising 21, whereupon the stabilizing influence can nook connected to the upper connected to t ieurpivetsll'y cassettes having: two oppositeecmersthereof mounted on saidpivet bolts and the jlili'cti'oh lineof the ether two comers thereof parallelto the vertical? axisof said tong device;- aliorizental guiderbar belnw said bar frame having-slots therein for receivin said pivot: bolts and for "guiding; sa-idtong levers in their" to and' fld about their pivotal axes on said-Horizontal bar frame; a guide bolt mounted perpendicularly to said guide bar at the midpoint thereof; a vertical control lever Having: its lower end connected to the bottom corner of said quadrangular: frame and its upper and eirt'eliding through said has frame and provided-' with a slot aft-aninte'rmediate part thereof permieiiinglongitudinali movement of said "trot lever relative to said guide bolt on said end of said lever res raising the lower corner of said quadrangular frame to client a spreadllig oi said pivot bolts and a conse uent distentionof tongs; and'aseeon hook means he" nppercomer or said quadranglel ar frame for effecting a collapse of the tong levers by the weightoi "said to s device;

'3". A rung device "comprising a horizontal bar name formed of a pair of spacedbars with an "opening medially thereof, a pair of tong levers iiaving-tneuppereniis thereofpivotally connected to the opposite ends 'of' saiu bar frame between said spaced bars, outwardly extendin feet; rigidly connected to the lower ends of said tong levers, a pivot bolt at an intermediate point of each of said tong levers, a quadrangular frame disposed on the opposite sides of said bar frame and each comprising four pivotally connected arms having two opposite corners thereof mounted on said pivot bolts and the junction line of the other two corners thereof parallel to the vertical axis of said tong device, a horizontal guide bar below said bar frame on the outside of each of said quadrangular frames, said guide bars having horizontal slots adjacent to the opposite ends thereof for receiving said pivot bolts and for guiding said tong levers in their to-and-fro movements about their pivotal axes on said horizontal bar frame, guide bolt means extending transversely from the midpoints of said horizontal guide bars, a vertical control lever having its lower end connected to the bottom corners of said quadrangular frames and its upper end extending through said first-mentioned opening in said bar frame and provided with a slotted portion at an intermediate part thereof for permitting longitudinal movement of said control lever-relative to said guide bolt means, hook means connected to the upper end of said lever for raising thelower corners of said quadrangular frames to effect a spreading of said pivot bolts and a consequent distention of said tongs, and a second hook means connected to the upper corners of said quadrangular frames for effecting a collapse of the tong levers by the weight of said tong device.

4. A tong device as set forth in claim 3 wherein a sleeve is provided terminating in a guiding projection, said sleeve being adjustably mounted on each extremity of said guide bolt means.

5. A tong device comprising a horizontal bar frame formed of a pair of spaced bars with an opening medially thereof, a pair of tong levers having the upper ends thereof pivotally connected to the opposite ends of said bar frame between said spaced bars, outwardly extending said horizontal guide feet rigidly connected to the lower ends of said tong levers, a pivot bolt at an intermediate point of each of said tong levers, a quadrangular frame disposed on the opposite sides of said bar frame and each comprising four pivotally connected arms having two opposite corners thereof mounted on said pivot bolts and the junction line of the other two corners thereof parallel to the vertical axis of said tong device, a horizontal guide bar below said bar frame on the outside of each of said quadrangular frames, said guide bars having slots therein for receiving said pivot bolts and for guiding said tong levers in their to-and-fro movements about their pivotal axes on said horizontal bar frame, a guide bolt extending transversely from the midpoint of each guide bar, a vertical control lever coincident with the vertical axis of said tong device having its lower end connected to the bottom corners of said quadrangular frames and its upper end extending through said first-mentioned opening in said bar frame, vertical levers fixedly attached to the opposite sides of said control lever beyond bars, each vertical lever having a slot for permitting longitudinal movement of said control lever relative to the axis of said guide bolts extending from said guide bars. hook means connected to the upper end or said control lever for raising the lower corners of said quadrangular frames to effect a spreading of said pivot bolts and a consequent distention of said tongs, and a second hook means connected to the upper corners of said quadrangular frames for effecting a collapse of the tong levers by the weight of said tong device.

. 6. A tong device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said vertical levers are pressed by said guide bolts against said horizontal guide bars.

7. A tong device as set forth in claim 5 wherein an adjustable sleeve is fitted over the free end of each guide bolt having a finger extending perpendicularly thereto.

8. A tong device as set forth in claim '7 wherein said sleeves are fixed adjustably on said bolts so that said fingers are spaced apart slightly less than the internal diameter of a body adapted to be handled by said tongs, the ends of said fingers being bent inwardly to aid the guiding of said tongs into the interior of said body.

ABRAHAM BARCHOFF.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,171,580 Atterbory Feb. 15, 1916 1,294,320 Storm Feb. 11, 1919 2,370,482 Morgan et al. Feb. 27, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 668,952 France Nov. 8, 1929 

